EPA welcomes the third European Week for Waste Reduction

Date released: Nov 18 2011

The third European Week for Waste Reduction runs from 19th to 27th November 2011. The idea of the European Week for Waste Reduction is to raise awareness about the waste reduction strategies of EU and Member States, and to encourage behaviour changes to promote more sustainable consumption and production: such changes yielding both environmental and economic benefits.

Thirty four organising authorities across 20 different EU Member States are taking part. In Ireland, over 30 different events are planned all around the country aimed at the general public as well as business and other organisations. These events are designed to highlight the ongoing work being done on waste prevention and resource efficiency in the areas of waste, water & energy.

Commenting, Dr Matthew Crowe, Director, EPA said;

“We again welcome this important week as it will highlight all the positive work that is being done in Ireland. The European Week for Waste Reduction provides an opportunity to share best practice case studies and know-how in relation to improving resource efficiency practices. The projects in the EPA-led National Waste Prevention Programme are generating real savings for businesses and organisations across many sectors, as well as achieving policy objectives. This is the third year of Ireland’s participation in the European Week for Waste Reduction and we are delighted at the number of different events taking place across the country, with seminars and workshops on everything from bringing new life to old clothes, avoiding food waste and preventing waste in business and includes a wide range of public and private organisations.”

Dr Jonathan Derham, EPA Resource Use Unit Programme Manager, and chair of the National Waste Prevention Committee, also welcomed the week commenting;

“This week will again highlight to each person the important responsibility that they bear at home or at work to consider their resources consumption and waste production behaviours. Being efficient in how we use resources – including preventing waste - is key to sustaining the economy and the environment. By not generating waste, we can eliminate the need to handle, transport, treat and dispose of waste. We can also avoid having to pay for these services.”

The following partner organisations in the National Waste Prevention Programme have been involved in developing the events:, Green Hospitality Programme, GreenBusiness.ie, Clean Technology Centre, Repak/EPA Packaging Prevention Programme, An Taisce Green Home/Schools, and local authorities in Kilkenny, Carlow, Monaghan, Galway, Cork, Limerick, Clare and Kerry. Over 30 different events are planned throughout the week at different locations around the country many of which are open to the general public. These include business seminars and public information events in a wide variety of locations. National and local radio advertising is being used to raise awareness in conjunction with regional newspapers. A website at www.ewwr.ie has been set up to provide details of the different events around the country.

In Ireland, the European Week for Waste Reduction is co-ordinated by the EPA-led National Waste Prevention Programme. The European Week for Waste Reduction (EWWR) is part of a 3-year project supported by the Life+ Programme of the European Commission.

Notes to editors:

The third European Week for Waste Reduction (EWWR) is the final year of a 3-year project supported by the Life+ Programme of the European Commission (www.ewwr.eu). All Member States and Regional/local authorities have been invited to participate. More than 34 different authorities in 20 Member States have already signed up including Ireland, the United Kingdom, France, Belgium, Estonia, Germany, Italy, Spain, Slovenia, Portugal and Sweden. The third EWWR runs from 19th to 27th November 2011.